Paris Agreement: ’Nigeria moving in right direction’

A group, Climate Scorecard, has given Nigeria a pass mark, saying that the West African nation “is moving in the right direction, although it still needs to do more” towards the realisation of the Paris Agreement.

The commendation is contained in the group’s “Global Spotlight Project for March 2018.”

The Paris Agreement is within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It deals with greenhouse gas emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020. The agreement sets out a global action plan to put the world on track to avoid dangerous climate change by limiting global warming to well below 2°C.

Nigeria’s recent issuance of the Sovereign Green Bond (or Climate Bond) appears to have influenced its three-star rating in the monthly assessment of 20 countries (including the EU) with high emission levels.

Other ratings include: four-star – Moving forward to combat climate change and support the Paris Agreement; two-star – the country is Standing Still; and one-star – the country is falling behind in its climate change efforts.

According to the Climate Scorcard, the Green Bond Fund has the potential to move the country forward in fulfilling its Paris Agreement pledge, but that other steps need to be taken in order for the potential to be fully realised.

On Thursday, December 14, 2017 at the Nigeria Green Bond Investors Forum in Abuja, Patience Oniha, the Director-General, Debt Management Office (DMO), said the Federal Government planned to issue N10.6 billion Green Bonds to finance renewable energy projects to protect the environment.

Climate Scorcard, however, warned that the Green Bond initiative needed to establish transparency and accountability for its efforts, adding that the government needs to strengthen its communications about the programme so that all Nigerians, especially businesses, know about it. The group adds that the Nigerian government should ensure that the bonds are utilised by renewable energy and other types of green businesses.

Out of the 20 nations assessed, only Italy got a four-star rating, ostensibly for its National Energy Strategy, which was approved last November. Sixteen nations (including Nigeria) got three-star ratings, while three got one-star assessments. No country or region got a two-star rating.

According to Climate Scorecard, the monthly Global Summary Reports are intended to be of use to those concerned about climate change and the success of the Paris Agreement, pointing out that it provides links to spotlight reports on activities in leading greenhouse gas emitting countries in relation to climate change mitigation and/or adaptation.

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